Loading elevator for bales, crates, and the like



April 24, 1951 E. H. SKELTON 2,549,990

AND THE LIKE LOADING ELEVATOR FOR SALES, CRATES Filed Nov. 25, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet l R ER Edgar H Ska/Ion p a Attorneys E. H. SKELTON April24, 1951 LOADING ELEVATOR FOR BALES, CRATES, AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 25,1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edgar H. Ska/ton By 2% and Hll IHIIIIH] PatentedApr. 24, 1951 LOADING ELEVATOR FOR BALES, CRATES, AND THE LIKE Edgar H.Skelton, Blackwell, Okla.

Application November 25, 1947, Serial No. 787,991

1 Claim. (Cl. 198--233) The present invention rel-ates to new and usefulimprovements in loading elevators and more particularly to a loadingelevator for baled hay and similar bulk materials.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a trailerframe on which the elevator is carried and providing a power plantcarried directly by the elevator for operating the same and manuallyoperated means for vertically adjusting the delivery end of theelevator.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character of simpleand practical construction, which is strong and durable, efiicient andreliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture andotherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the elevator in its loweredposition when not in use.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the elevator in its raised position.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 5-5of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the inventionthe numeral 5 designates a trailer frame to one end of which an axle Sis secured with the wheels 7 journalled on the ends of the axle. Theother end of the frame is provided with a tractor hitch 8 ofconventional construction and by means of which the trailer may bedetachably connected to a draw-bar 9 of a tractor or other towingvehicle.

The front end of the frame 5, adjacent the hitch 8 is provided at itsside edges with upstanding supports til suitably braced as shown at H.The receiving end of a loading elevator frame i2 is pivoted to the upperend of the support it by pins or the like l3 for vertical swingingmovement of the delivery end of the elevator.

The elevator i2 extends longitudinally above the frame 5 with itsdelivery end projecting rear wardly of the wheels l, the elevator beingsubstantially balanced on the wheels.

The elevator frame l2 includes spaced parallel 2 longitudinallyextending frame members 14 suitably braced as shown at I5, the sideframe members having side rails l6 supported in an elevated positionthereon by posts El and braces 13. Po sitioned between the side framemembers 14 are substantially flat spaced parallel tracks'lll, the

tracks being suitably secured to the cross bracing IS.

A front transverse shaft 20 is journalled at the front ends of the sideframe members l4 and a rear transverse shaft 2| is journalled at therear end of the side frame members M. A sprocket 22 is carried by theshaft 28 and a sprocket 23 is secured to the shaft 2|, the sprockethaving an endless conveyor chain 24 trained thereon. The chain 24 isdriven by the sprocket 23 and shaft 2! by means of an electric motor 25supported on a bracket 2% beneath the rear end of one of the side framemembers [4, the motor driving the shaft 2! through a series of belts orchains 2'! and reduction pulleys or sprockets 28.

A plurality of conveying lugs or prongs 29 are suitably secured atlongitudinally spaced intervals to the chain 24 whereby bales of hay orother material deposited on the elevator at the receiving end thereofwill be conveyed longitudinally of the elevator.

An idler sprocket 35 is suitably supported beneath the elevator !2 overwhich the lower flight of the chain travels to remove slack therein.

A pair of arms 3! are provided with collars 32 at their front ends forpivotally mounting the arms on the axle ii, the arms being connected toeach other for uniform raising and lowering movement by cross members33; Grooved rollers 34 are journalled at the rear ends of the arms totravel under the lower edges of the frame members l2.

A cable 35 is secured at one end to the rear end of one of the arms 3!and extends forwardly under the elevator for winding and unwinding on adrum 36 secured to a shaft 3'l journalled at the front end of trailerframe 5 and manually operated by a handle 38 and gears 39.

A pair of props 49 rise from the axle 5 having reduced vertical pins Elat their upper ends to enter recesses 32 in the underside of framemembers l2 to support the elevator in a lowered substantially horizontalposition on the trailer when not in use and while being transported fromplace to place.

In the operation of the device, the rear or delivery end of the elevatoris raised or lowered into a desired vertically adjusted position by thedrum 3% and cable 35 and bales of hay #33 or other ma- 8 terial receivedon the lower front end of the elevator is conveyed rearwardly by themotor driven chain 24 and delivered at its upper end for storage orstacking.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of theconstruction, operation and advantages of the device \Vill be quiteapparent to those slcllled in this art. A more detailed description isaccordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that eventhough there is herein shown.and. described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of .theinvention as; herein.

described and the scope of the appended clai1n..

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A portable loading elevator comprising a twowheel trailer including. anaxle and. a. frame extending, forwardly therefrom, an. endless. con.-veyor including a frame pivoted. at. its front end to'the front end of,the trailer frame and havingreicessesat its underside, props. rising.from theaxle and supporting the conveyor frame inits lowered position,upstanding pins on the upper ends of the props and adapted to enter saidre- REFERENEES' GITl-ED The following references are of record in the,file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 635,809 Richardson Oct. 31, 1889676,504 Kassel June 18, 1901 1,114,425 Adams, Oct. 20, 1914 1,558,300;Searles Oct. 20, 1925 1350;85'5 Neighbour Mar. 18, 1930 1,989,537 WentzJan. 29, 1935 2.40%,636 Chantland July- 9,129.46 v2,446,660 Mulkeyetsa1. Aug;.. 1.01,. 1:948

FOREIGN PATENTS France July 185. 19.34

